Throwback Photo Of Tafawa Balewa During His Annual Leave In His Hometown, Bauchi In 1963

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician who happens to be the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria.

 

Born in December 1912, Tafawa Balewa was originally a trained teacher and went on to he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time.

 

He was also an international statesman, widely respected across the African continent as one of the leaders who encouraged the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Nicknamed the Golden Voice of Africa because of his oratory, he stands one of the only three National Heroes of the Nigerian Nation.

 

The man served as Minister on more than one occasion when he entered government before Nigeria's independence and when Nigeria became independent, he became its first Prime Minister in 1960.

 

Balewa was generally acknowledged to be a very simple and humble man who did not have his sight on wealth acquisition. This throwback photo of Balewa has served to prove that belief right.

 

The throwback photo reportedly shows the man during his annual vacation which he decided to have in his hometown of Bauchi State. In the photo, he is seen sitting on the floor with two kids who are both chewing on sugar canes.

 

Nigerians on social media have compared this to the situation we have now where leaders travel to exotic places around the world for their vacations. They lamented that Nigeria needs to go back to the basics.